A House Divided

Then Jesus went home; and the crowd came together again, so that they could not even eat. When his family heard it, they went out to restrain him, for people were saying, “He has gone out of his mind.” And the scribes who came down from Jerusalem said, “He has Beelzebul, and by the ruler of the demons he casts out demons.” And he called them to him, and spoke to them in parables, “How can Satan cast out Satan? If a kingdom is divided against itself, that kingdom cannot stand. And if a house is divided against itself, that house will not be able to stand. And if Satan has risen up against himself and is divided, he cannot stand, but his end has come. But no one can enter a strong man’s house and plunder his property without first tying up the strong man; then indeed the house can be plundered. “Truly I tell you, people will be forgiven for their sins and whatever blasphemies they utter; but whoever blasphemes against the Holy Spirit can never have forgiveness, but is guilty of an eternal sin”—for they had said, “He has an unclean spirit.” Then his mother and his brothers came; and standing outside, they sent to him and called him. A crowd was sitting around him; and they said to him, “Your mother and your brothers and sisters are outside, asking for you.” And he replied, “Who are my mother and my brothers?” And looking at those who sat around him, he said, “Here are my mother and my brothers! Whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother.” Mark 3:19b-35

O gracious God, Creator of day and night

you set balance and compliment in everything

the seasons turn for toil and for rest

and we are made whole is our relationships.

Our present time is off balance and wobbling

we are a country and people divided

afraid of the violence in our neighbor's eyes

not admitting the violence in our own hearts.

You have called us to be sisters and brothers

sent daily to work for love and reconciliation

yet we would judge others by race and clan

we rarely confess to our dominate others.

Creator, humble us and remake us today

help us to be your servants of peace alone

let all our work be healing and forgiveness

strengthen us to stand together as one family. Amen.